Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement
Importance of Training and Testing
REALISTIC
TRAINING
Realistic training is vital to
the military in preparing
and protecting U.S. Navy
personnel. It is an absolute
necessity to train Sailors
and Marines for the precise
conditions in which they
may find themselves
while protecting the
nation. Diverse training
opportunities ensure Navy
personnel are able to react
swiftly and decisively in
a wide range of potential
situations, including
defense against ocean
piracy and carrying out
disaster relief missions
around the world.
Aug/Sept
2010
NAVY MISSION
The U.S. Navy’s mission, derived from Title 10 of the U.S. Code, is to “maintain,
train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring
aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.” To accomplish this mission, the
Navy conducts at-sea training and testing and maintains military ranges, operating
areas and airspace for training and testing activities. Training provides Navy
personnel with the opportunity to learn and practice skills needed to conduct
a wide range of activities. The Navy also conducts research, development, test
and evaluation (”testing”) of new technology, tactics, weapons systems, ships and
aircraft to ensure its forces are properly equipped. Further, the Navy’s access to
military ranges must be maintained because those ranges are vital for training
and testing.
ATLANTIC FLEET TRAINING AND TESTING (AFTT)
STUDY AREA
The AFTT study area covers approximately 2.6 million square nautical miles
and encompasses the at-sea portions of Navy training range complexes and
testing ranges along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the lower Chesapeake Bay.
The study area also includes Navy and contractor piers where sonar testing,
maintenance and repair activities take place.
The majority of routine Navy training and testing activities, which include the
use of active sonar and explosives, take place primarily within the seaspace and
airspace of existing training and testing ranges, at and near Navy piers, and in
transit to operating areas (seaspace). Activities are not confined to these
areas, however.
NAVY TRAINING IN THE AFTT STUDY AREA
The Navy has conducted training and testing activities in the AFTT study area
for decades to develop new technologies and prepare service men and women
for deployment. Today, the Navy trains in the AFTT study area to prepare Navy
personnel for global conflicts, homeland defense/homeland security activities,
anti-piracy efforts and humanitarian efforts such as disaster relief.
NAVY TESTING IN THE AFTT STUDY AREA
Testing activities must occur under specific conditions and in various maritime
environments to successfully complete certain phases of testing. The attributes
that make the AFTT study area ideal for training also support critical and mission-
specific Navy testing activities. Testing ranges within the AFTT study area include
the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Rhode Island, Naval Surface Warfare Center
Carderock Division South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility, and Naval Surface
Warfare Center Panama City Division. Testing in the AFTT study area also
includes pierside testing during maintenance, repair and overhaul activities.
IMPORTANCE OF THE AFTT
STUDY AREA
The AFTT study area is essential for
meeting the Navy’s mission and has a
unique combination of attributes that
make it an ideal training and testing
venue.
Proximity to the Homeport of
Naval Forces
The Atlantic and Gulf coasts are home
to a number of major Navy homeports
including New London, Conn.; Norfolk,
Va.; Kings Bay, Ga.; and Jacksonville, Fla.
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Navy training activities consist of
basic and specialized individual skills,
intermediate skills or small unit training,
and advanced, integrated training events.
Training activities provide realistic
experience and include the following:
• General aircraft, ship and submarine
operations
• Weapons training
• Use of mine countermeasures
• Submarine detection and tracking
• Anti-piracy tactics
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Each of these homeports has a high
concentration of key Navy organizations,
commands, ships and infrastructure. This
means more time spent training rather
than traveling to the training areas. In
addition, training close to home reduces
fuel costs and usage.
Proximity of Ranges
Within the AFTT study area is a series
of training range complexes and testing
ranges. The combined capabilities of
the training and testing ranges and their
proximity to each other are needed to
Modern military actions require
teamwork among hundreds or thousands
of people and their various equipment,
vehicles, ships and aircraft, all working
individually and as a coordinated unit
to achieve success. The skills involved
in operating complex equipment and
weapons systems are challenging to
acquire and difficult to maintain without
constant practice. The Navy maintains a
rigorous, comprehensive training regimen
to ensure these skills are always present
and available when called upon.
www.AFTTEIS.com
support multiple aspects of integrated,
major training events.
Training Environment
The Navy needs to train in a variety of
ocean environments, including littoral
areas (nearshore or shallow water)
and the open ocean. The AFTT study
area provides an essential training
environment for antisubmarine, air,
surface, subsurface and amphibious
warfare training.
TESTING ACTIVITIES
The Navy conducts technological
research and testing activities to
improve the quality and safety of
weapons, ships, aircraft, sensors
and other systems. These activities
are broad in scope and range from
the scientific study of the marine
environment to the testing and
evaluation of new technologies and
weapons to ensure they function
as intended. Sometimes these
activities are carried out as part of
Navy training activities because of
the need to use ships or aircraft,
or because some aspect of the
training activity is an important part
of the test. These testing activities
are essential to ensuring military
personnel have the best materials,
equipment and tactics possible.